Websites that accept session IDs within URLs and do not perform security validation on them are particularly prone to session fixation attacks. ![]() ![]() In session fixation, attackers take over user accounts by setting their session ID to a string known by the attackers. If the code copies the user’s active session cookies and sends them to a server controlled by the attacker, they can hijack the user’s session. But when they click the link, the injected script will execute. The user will click the link because it points to a known, trusted website. This is commonly done by sending users emails with script-injected links. In cross-site scripting, attackers exploit web application or server vulnerabilities by injecting malicious scripts from the user’s device. But if the rest of the application does not use SSL/TLS encryption, session hijacking can still occur. For example, if the login page uses SSL/TLS encryption, attackers can’t view a user’s password. Session sniffing is particularly effective on unencrypted networks like public Wi-Fi.Īpplications that don’t use SSL/TLS encryption – or use it selectively – are also vulnerable to session side jacking attempts. Session sniffing, also known as session side jacking, involves attackers using a sniffer like Wireshark to inspect network traffic and extract the session key. Here are some common ways in which session hijacking attacks are carried out: Session sniffing Session hijacking can lead to:įraudulent banking transactions and purchasesĮxfiltration of the user’s personal information or their company’s sensitive dataĪlso read: Broken Authentication 101 Common session hijacking methods This means attackers getting a user’s session ID is as bad as attackers getting a user’s login credentials.Īn attacker with a stolen session ID has the same level of access to resources and functionalities as a legitimate authenticated user. Theft: The attacker acquires the session ID through techniques like session sniffing, session fixation, and cross-site scripting.Ī session ID for an authenticated session is considered a very strong authentication method. This is commonly done through three methods:īrute force: The attacker keeps trying session IDs until they are successful.Ĭalculation: If the session IDs are generated in a non-random manner, the attacker can calculate them. In session hijacking, an attacker gets hold of a valid user session to gain unauthorized access to the account. This is why session hijacking is also called cookie hijacking or cookie side-jacking. They are often stored in session cookies, URLs, and hidden forms on the website. Fig: How a session worksĪ session ID is a long alphanumeric string that is continually transmitted between the server and the client. When a session is destroyed, all associated user data is deleted from the allocated memory space. Sessions keep track of any user-specific parameters that are needed to ensure a good app experience. The session is usually active until the user logs out of the application, although some apps end the session after a period of user inactivity. When a user logs into an application, a new session is created and a session ID is assigned. This is why sessions are needed.Ī session is a sequence of interactions between two devices, usually a client and a server, that happen over a single connection. ![]() Entering usernames and passwords for every button click or web page view is not fun for anyone. ![]() Theoretically, this means a user would have to authenticate for every action they take on a particular application. Since HTTP is a stateless protocol, there is no connection between a request and other requests that were executed previously. To understand session hijacking, it’s important to know the basics of session management. This article will focus on session hijacking at the application layer. Session hijacking is a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack that can happen at both the application layer (Layer 7) as well as the network layer (Layer 3). Apart from credential theft, session hijacking is one of the most common ways in which attackers exploit poor authentication practices to steal money, data, and identities. Session hijacking is a cyberattack where adversaries impersonate an authenticated user after stealing their session ID.
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